A BIT ABOUT THE PLAY
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'Much Ado About Nothing' is a romantic comedy. The story goes something like this:
[According to the reviews for this play, in this instance, to begin, we find ourselves in 1945, amidst the jubilant celebrations of VE day.]
Benedick (Simon Merrells)and Beatrice (Sally Ann Triplett ) like to verbally spar. And no sooner has Benedick returned, than the two of them pick up where they left off, in their own 'kind of merry war', of wit and repartee upon one another:
But Benedick, a self-affirmed bachelor, does not like what he is hearing, and so, tries to talk Claudio out of what he is professing. So Claudio then turns to his friend, Don Pedro (Howard Saddler), Claudio to him says:
Because arrangements for the wedding cannot be completed in less than a week, Don John proposes that they pass the time by attempting 'one of Hercules' labours', that of trying to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love with each other. Accordingly, they set about an 'honest slander' by arranging for Benedick to overhear some plain truths about his 'contemptible spirit' and many expressions of pity for Beatrice, who they say is desperately in love with him, despite the way she acts. They also say how fearful she is to reveal her true feelings because of the likelihood that he will scorn her for them.
At the very same time, Don John plans a conspiracy of his own, to lay down a vicious plan of slander against Hero, and break the couple up. By having both his brother, Don Pedro, and Claudio present to overhear a secret liaison, which is supposedly between Hero and a lover, Don John's plan works exactly as he had intended, and Claudio is livid, to say the least. [Of course, it wasn't really Hero, it was really Borachio and a waiting-maid, but Don Pedro and Claudio didn't know that.]
Meanwhile, back at the other conspiracy, having seen that their little plan was working quite well with Benedick, the other conspirators try a similar course of planted overhearing on Beatrice. And it works quite well on her too.
Borachio gets to bragging about how well Don John's plan had worked to his pal, Conrade, only what he doesn't know is that he has been over heard. It is then reported to Reverend Dogberry, who tries to tell the Governor. But the Governor, is on his way to the wedding, and is a bit too preoccupied to listen, and just kind of brushes them off, without really hearing what they said.
At the church, Don Pedro and Claudio shame Hero in front of the whole congregation, telling what they thought they had witnessed. Hero, who is totally innocent, and has no idea what they are talking about, faints. Don Pedro and Claudio stomp out, because they are both pretty worked up by this point. The Friar is sure that some mistake has been made, and convinces her father to tell everyone that Hero is dead, and in so doing, maybe things might sort themselves out.
Beatrice is one of the few people that actually believes her cousin, Hero. She looks for somebody that might help right this wrong. And who does she find by her side? Benedick. Under the stress of the moment, he offers to do anything that will prove his love.
Leonato, repenting his lack of faith in his daughter, speaks sharply to Don Pedro and Claudio, and even tries to challenge Claudio to a duel. In search of someone to cheer them up, Don Pedro and Claudio find Benedick, but much to their surprise, instead of cheering them up, Benedick hisses a challenge in Claudio's ear.
Reverend Dogberry then arrives with the prisoners in tow, who spill a full confession of Don John's villainy. Claudio and Don Pedro then, feel the full impact of what they have done, and Claudio begs Leonato to forgive him, saying that he will do anything to make what amends he can. Leonato says that he will forgive him, on the condition that he publicly demonstrate his belief in Hero's innocence by hanging an epitaph on her tomb, and by marrying his niece, a girl that is very much like Hero was. Claudio agrees.
At the church, Claudio marries a veiled girl and rejoices to find that she is really Hero, alive and well.
The Benedick/Beatrice conspiracy almost comes to nothing, but when each is confronted with a 'halting sonnet from of own pure brain', the couple take each other 'out of pity' and in defiance of a 'whole college of wit crackers'.
As the play closes, we are told that Don John has been captured and is being brought back to Messina for punishment. So, all loose ends are tied up, and a nice happy ending all the way around!
The play begins with news that Don Pedro (Howard Saddler) shall be returning, unscathed from the war to Messina, and shall be bringing with him Claudio (Stephen Billington) and Benedick (Simon Merrells), an RAF just back from the campaign in Italy. Which is good news to all, as both are well liked in Messina.
Beatrice: I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick; nobody marks you.
Claudio (Stephen Billington), however, now that war no longer demands all of his attention, sees Beatrice's gentle cousin, Hero (Ruth Everett) with much different eyes than when he left. Claudio, tries to tell his friend Benedick:
Benedick: What, my dear lady Disdain! are you yet living?
Beatrice: Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself mush convert to disdain if you come in her presence.
Benedick: Then is courtesy a turn-coat--But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart: for, truly, I love none.
Beatrice: A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I would rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.
Benedick:God, keep your ladyship still in that mind!! So some gentleman or other shall 'scape a predestined scratched face.
Beatrice:Scratching could not make it worse an 'twere such a face as yours were.
Benedick: Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.
Beatrice: A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Benedick: I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way o'God's name; I have done.
Beatrice: You always end with a jade's trick; I know you of old.
Claudio: Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?
Benedick: I noted her not, but I looked on her.
Claudio: Is she not a modest young lady?
Benedick:Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
Claudio: No, I pray thee, speak in sober judgment.
Benedick: Why, i'faith, methinks she is too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise; only this commendation I can afford her; that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her.
Claudio: Thou thinkest I am in sport: I pray thee, tell me truly how thou likest her.
Benedick: Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?
Claudio: Can the world buy such a jewel?
Benedick:Yea, and a case to put it in. But speak you this with a sad brow? or do you play the floating Jack, to tell us Cupid is a good harefinder, and Vulcan a rare carpenter? Come, in what key shall a man take you to go in the song?
Claudio:In my eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.'Oh my lord,
Don Pedro (Howard Saddler), ever in his friend's corner, offers to assist Claudio by disguising himself and then telling Hero that he is Claudio, and confessing what is in Claudio's heart to her. This conversation is mis-heard, by Antonio, who reports to Hero's Uncle that the Prince rather than Claudio is in love with Hero. Borachio, who also overheard, carries the correct news to Don John (Faz Singhateh). Don John, a self-professed villain, who is every bit as malicious, as his brother is kind, and who hates Claudio because '...that young startup hath all the glory of my over-throw. If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way.', sees the intended marriage as an opportunity to even the score with Claudio and with his brother.
When you went onward on this ended action,
I looked upon her with a soldier's eye,
That liked, but had a rougher task in hand
Than to drive liking in the name of love:
But now I am return'd, and that war-thoughts
Have left their places vacant, in their rooms
Come thronging soft and delicate desires,
All prompting me how fair young Hero is,
Saying, I liked her ere I went to wars.'
That evening, at the ball disguised as Benedick, Don John plants the idea in Claudio's mind that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself, (an idea further encouraged by a mistake of Benedick's). But this suspicion is quickly erased when Don Pedro presents Hero to Claudio as his intended. To her, Claudio delivers this line:'Silence is the perfect herald of joy:
I were but little happy if I could say how much.
--Lady, as you are mine, I am yours' Benedick: Come, bid me do anything for thee.
They argue a bit more, and finally he relents:
Beatrice:Kill Claudio.
Benedick: Ha! Not for the wide world.
Beatrice: You kill me to deny it. Farewell.
Benedick:Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero?
In the meantime Reverend Dogberry questions his prisoners, eventually the truth comes to light.
Beatrice: Yea, a sure as I have a thought or a soul.
Benedick: Enough, I am engaged: I will challenge him; I will kiss your hand and so leave you. By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your cousin; I must say she is dead; and so, farewell.